Dental hydrocolloid conditioning apparatus



Jul 3, 1945. M, THMP N 2,379,504

DENTAL HYDROCOLLOID CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1942 PatentedJuly 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

APPARATUS Morris J. Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 3,1942, Serial No. 453,315

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-20) This invention relates to a dental hydrocolloidConditioning apparatus, and more particularly to the production of anapparatus for conditioning quantities of dental hydrocolloid for use atthe desired or required condition. of fluidity.

This application is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application,Serial No, 305,488, for Method of and apparatus for taking an impressionof a cavity for dental inlay, filed November 21, 1939.

In the handling of dental hydrocolloids asused for the making ofimpressions, it is necessary to liquefy or render more fluid the saidmaterial.

Dental hydrocolloids are used for the making of full or partial mouthimpressions and are also utilized according to the disclosure of mycopending application hereinabove identified for taking of impressionsof inlay cavities and preparations. These dental hydrocolloids, of whichthere are several sold under different trade names, include differentingredients as, for example, mixtures including agar, fibres and otheranalogous material. These hydrocolloids gel when cooled. They possessthe advantage of being easily handledwhen of the proper fluidity and ofproducing under proper conditions accurate impressions of the cavitytooth preparation or dental structure on which inlays or models may beproduced or made. v

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for theconditioning of dental hydrocolloids as to fluidity and temperaturewhich enables the operator to place the material in the apparatus and todismiss from his mind the process of preparing the material.

It is another object of this invention. to provide an apparatuswhichincludes a plurality of temperature control baths thermostaticallycontrolled for maintaining the requisite fluidity and temperature ofdental hydrocolloid and in which quantities of dental hydrocolloid maybe maintained at the varying temperatures desired for use in carryingout the different operations of making dental impressions.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a dental hydrocolloidconditioning apparatus in' iment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dental hydrocolloid conditioningapparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a, wiring diagram.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in. theaccompanying drawing, I indicates a box which may be of any suitablematerial in which is mounted a plurality of tempering bath containers 2,3 and 4 for the tempering and conditioning of dental hydrocolloids. Thebath 2 is adapted to be maintained at or about the lowest temperature(1. e., 125 F.) at which the dental hydrocolloid may be maintained fluidfor a short period of time. The bath 3 is a tempering bath in which thedental hydrocolloid is conditioned and may be maintained at atemperature of 140 to 160 F., or in other words, at the temperature atwhich the dental hydrocolloid is maintained fluid and will remain fluidfor a number of hours without gelling. The

bath 4 is the elevated temperature bath in which V the dentalhydrocolloid is rendered fluid from its gelled condition. This bath ismaintained at a temperature as will hereinafter be set forth as in theneighborhood of 194-2l2 F., being preferably maintained at a temperaturein theneighborhood of 208 F., or below the boiling temperature of water.Each of the baths 2, 3 and 4 is preferably a water or other liquid bath.

The means provided for maintaining the respective temperatures in thebaths 2, 3 and 4 preferably includes an electrical circuit 5 which isadapted tobe plugged into any ordinary power circuit. The bath 2 ismaintained at the selected temperature of between 105 to F. through themedium of a heating coil 6 which is connected through a thermostat I inthe power circuit, the thermostat I being set to break the electricalsupply to the heating element 6 at the desired degree of temperaturewithin this approximate range.

Connected in the circuit is a heating element 8 which surrounds the bath3 tomaintain the water therein at the desired temperature in theapproximate range of to F., and there is provided in this circuit athermostat 9 adapted to interrupt supply of electrical energy to theheating element 8 when the temperature of the Water in the bath 3reaches the selected temperature of between 140 and 160 F. Alsoconnected hydrocolloid from. further consideration.

in the circuit with the heating element 8 is a further heating element lwhich surrounds the high temperature bath 4. This element I0 is adaptedto maintain the water within the container 4 at the low limit at whichthe dental hydrocolloid will remain fluid for an extended period oftime. Also surrounding the container 4, or provided in conjunctiontherewith for the purpose of heating the water therein, is a .hightemperature heating element I l whichis adapted to raise the temperatureof the water within the bath 4 to the temperature required for heatingthe dental hydrocolloid to a point where it, will become fluid. Thistemperatureis between 194 to 212 F, and the temperature preferablyutilized for this purpose is around 208 F. or-belowboiling, and stillwithin the aforesaid range. The purpos of employing a temperature belowboiling is to prevent the water Within the bath 4 from boiling over oraway during the period of time of conditioning thedental hydrocolloid.and tov insuresufiitime 'for the raising of the itemperature of thedental hydrocolloid so that he may .merely set the time on the time.switch l3,;place :the dental hydrocolloidin the high temperature bath 44, sand dismiss the process of conditioning the dental .The operation isthatthetime switch will determine thc period of time at which the wateris being raisedcto the aforesaid preferred temperature of 208" F. vandis maintained atxsuch temperature as is sele'ctedlor .liquefying thedentalhydrocol- -loid, .or at the other set'temperature beloiw .boilingwhich period of time is sufficient .tocondition the .dental.hydrocol'loid sand to render the same fluid. After this period of time,the time switch -l31wil1operate to cut out the high temperaturelicatcelement II. The temperatureof the .fiuild' within the container 4will then drop tolthe temperature determined .ibyithe interme-- dilatetemperature heating element H] and will be maintained at thistemperatureas controlled by the 140 to 160 F. thermostat.untilittiseithertransferred toone oi the other ;baths .2 or .3- or is utilized. .-Athermostat l 5.is provided in'the cir- 'cuit connectedto the heatingelelnent'll-to enfacturer so that a whole package oi rnatcrlal in itscontainer may be rendered fluid. The baths 3 :and '4 are also of :adepth so that the dental hydrocolloid carried in injection syringes maybe conditioned in the syringes as to the desired tern" perature foruse.The bath .2 is also used to receive a tray or impression of colloid tocondition thesame.

In my. copending-application, Serial No. 305.488,- I have set forth theprocess embodying my invention wherein the dental hydrocolloid isutilized in two portions, and havinga different fluidity orcongealed-stages, controlled bya higher and lower temperature bath forthe purpose of forming inlay impressions of a tooth preparation orcavity.

In this process, with the aid ofthe controlled temperature bath, it isdesirable to have the fluidity of the portion of the dental hydrocolloidY which is directly injected into the cavity at a has been injected intothe tooth cavity.

temperature which will insure the material flowing into all crevices orparts of the cavity. I have disclosed that this first portion of dentalhydrocolloid is forced into all parts of the cavity and its crevices bya second portion of a larger quantity of dental hydrocolloid which isconditioned for a retarded flow and carried in a tray and forced downover the tooth containing the cavity and onto the material previouslyinjected into the cavity.

Hydrocolloid can be utilized at a high temperature such as F. to fillcavities and cover prepared teeth when applied in small portions. The

highly vascular tissues of the mouth absorb and dissipate increased heat(which is given up very slowly by the hydrocolloid). The readyabsorption of the heat by the tissues prevents the injury to the toothand a painful operation to the patient. However, it is veryuncomfortable and detrimental to the tissues and teeth to apply a largeamount of dental hydrocolloid at a high temperatureyfor instance, withthe second portion in atray or carrier. The vascular tissues arecapable'of absorbing a certain amount of heat, but they-reach asaturated point and beyond'this polntthe heat is injurious 'to'theanatomical structures and very uncomfortable to the patient.

Ihave-found when these two portions of material are utilized in themanner as described and as described'in my copending application thattheybond together so that when the largerportion of material is removedfrom the mouth and away from the teeth,-it will carry with it theportion of 'higli'temperature hydrocolloid which Of course, the processof removal is not carried out until after'thehydrocolloid'has beengelled or cooled to set the same.

*Having fully "described my invention, it is to be understood'that I donot wish to be limited to the the details herein set forth, but myinvention is of the full scope of the appended'claims.

tween 194 and 212 F. for a period of time to rapidly changethehydrocolloid to a fluid condition, and'asecond container adaptedtoreceive the hydrocolloid from the first container, means 'forheatingtheliquidin-the second containerto maintain the temperaturethereinsufficient -to "hold the-hydrocolloid at a temperature at which itisfreely flui'd, and-a third containeredapted to-receive the dentalhydrocolloid, and means for heating the liquid in the-third 'container'to approximately the lowesttemperature at which'the hydrocolloid-isfluid, a timing means adapted to discontinue theheating 'of the liquid:in the'flrst container afterapredetermined-period of time sufficient topermit the hy-drocolloid toabecome fluid, and heating means operativelassociated --with' the-"heating-oneans of the second. containerfor'holding the temperature of the liquid :withln the -first'containerfrom dropping below the tem- .perature of the liquld in the secondcontainer.

"2.1'In a heating device: for dental hydrocolloid adapted. to. 'quichlylheat and maintainr foraankmg period on time thedental hydrocolloid in.a. fluid condition the combination .of a ibcxamember having liquid:containers therein; one xii-said containers for said hydrocolloid havinga heating means for raising the temperature of the liquid therein to atemperature of between 194 and 212 F., a second liquid container adaptedto receive the hydrocolloid from the first container, means formaintaining the temperature of the liquid within the second container ata reduced temperature and at which the hydrocolloid is freely fluid,time means for interrupting the first said heating means, and a heatingmeans for the liquid of the first container operatively associated withthe heating means of the second container and operative to hold theliquid in the first container from falling below the temperature of theliquid in the second container.

MORRIS J .THOMPSON.

